Storm0266

I have been doing quite a bit of research regarding muay thai and begin class this week. My research revealed quit a bit of conflicting information that I hope someone can clarify or provide their opinions. Although most agree that muay thai is a brutal art, there seems to be some disagreement about its effectiveness for self defense and street fighting. I was wondering what others think. Also, it seems that practitioners say its a devastating art and they can take out most other arts head-to-head while those who do not practice say it's not as effective as other arts. I disagree wholeheartedly given that I have kickboxing and boxing experience and know what a well executed strike can do. I was just wondering what other people's opinions were. My goal in transitioning to muay thai is I feel that it's practical system for self defense, incorporates my boxing interests while including effective kicks, and overall fitness.

Michael Wright

OK, lets just get the default caveats out of the way very quickly:

- A good Thai Boxer is effective, a crap Thai Boxer is ineffective. No art can support an individual who cannot make it work.
- Self-Protection has far more to it than martial arts, intelligence and strength of will are what generally prevail.

So, with those out of the way:

For physical self-protection, Thai Boxing offers you a strong defensive structure and an excellent attacking arsenal. Powerful low line kicks, good boxing hands, a devastating clinch with awesome knees and elbows. Add to that the fact that a good Thai Boxer will have very good cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. If they ring fight, they will also understand the mental and emotional stress of the pre-fight. Add all of that up, and if anyone asks me what the most complete standalone system to study is, I also say Thai Boxing.

Some weaknesses that people may label at the art, are: There is no grappling (not necessarily true), no weaponry (not true if you study the complete arts) and “its just a sport”. The perceived lack of grappling and weaponry are not a weakness of Thai Boxing, they are the weakness of the given practitioner to not understand that cross training in this age is just a given. The “sport vs street” argument is done to death on this forum, just check out the threads in the MMA section. My personal opinion, for what its worth, is I would much rather face someone from one of the many “street fighting” styles in an alley, than have to face down a good Thai Boxer.

Short version, if you train hard, you are in good hands with this art.

fire cobra

Nicely put Michael.

Storm0266

Thanks for the reply. Based on what I have read and seen thus far, it appears that muay thai is what I am looking for. It seems to be somewhat controversial whereas those who practice it strongly support it while those who practice a more traditional martial art criticize it. Everything written seems to be biased in some way.

Tant01

Exceptions to the rule....

Muay-thai is brutal stuff... No doubt about it. The thing about combat arts (sports) is that LOTS of folks try it.

In my work I have met many kinds of folks, some of them have practiced various arts and had formal training.

One guy in particular was especially timid and reserved. His training in the Muay-thai was of little value. While I expected him to throw some kicks or elbows when we played he just didn't have it in his constitution to actually THROW that stuff at me.

I seriously doubt that he would hurt a fly...

He knew how. He has the skill and strength to inflict some serious trauma but he JUST couldn't bring himself to draw blood.

I even tried to antagonize him, push his buttons and even threw a few finger jabs and light contact kicks his way but I couldn't draw him in.

It's probably a good thing he didn't retaliate thinking back on it. I might be much uglier than I am...

Your art is only as "good" as YOU make it.

My .02 cents...

__________________
While the old form, jujutsu, was studied solely for fighting purposes, Kano's new system is found to promote the mental as well as the physical faculties.

T. Shidachi, 1892

Ghost

yeah mikes post was very good.
i think when you go to the gym look at the fighters. Thai boxing gyms have a large turn over because the training is hard.

In terms of people criticizing thai boxing imo its mostly through fear that it might actually be that good. So you get the, oh they wear gloves and its only a sport excuses.
Truth is a well trained and mentally capable thai boxer is a formidable opponent.
Its very hard to fight effectively against someone that is hitting you high, low, middle from loads of different angles with lots of different weapons in rapid succession.
The defence in muay thai is particularly useful as it will work against other systems too.
Basically you learnt to block angles of stike. so you can use the same defense on a back kick as you can for a push kick. cos essentially the kick is just coming straight at you.
With the amount of sparring you do this will actually work.
Ive sparred with many guys from different systems and been able to block all the fancy kicks etc and differnt punches simply because its a matter of lines/angles and footwork.
i guess thats the same for other systems but there is a method to the way thai is taught that means if you stick with it you will actually be able to do it. i cant say the same for all other systems.

__________________
Skills: Numchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills.
Favourite animal: Liger, bred for its skills in magic.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

Lone_Knight

I think Muay Thai would be effective in self-defense. Although if your foe had a knife you many not want to use that clinch.

aseepish

Think of the extra running-away ability you'll have from doing all that roadwork!

I'm only half-joking

__________________
"It was about that time I realized that searching was my symbol, the emblem of those who go out at night with nothing in mind, the motives of a destroyer of compasses." -Cortázar

GQchris

Muay Thai combined with someone with a killer instinct and proficient in the art, makes a formidable opponent, sure things are slightly different when out on the Street, but fighting is still fighting, different when weapons are in the mix.

__________________
Owner of a lonely heart.. much better than a owner of a broken heart...

Ghost

yeah you just have to see muay thai in the context of unarmed stand up fighting. thats what it does and it does that very well. add in other systems if you are worried about other ranges.

__________________
Skills: Numchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills.
Favourite animal: Liger, bred for its skills in magic.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

GQchris

Add in some nasty Filipino knife training and you're all set; them filipino dudes are some mean muthers...

__________________
Owner of a lonely heart.. much better than a owner of a broken heart...

Ghost

yeah, bit of bjj to cover some ground work, should do fine.

__________________
Skills: Numchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills.
Favourite animal: Liger, bred for its skills in magic.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

eXcessiveForce

LOL you think this is controversial try asking which is the best knife or gun for self defense.

better yet, just ask which form of tai chi is the best for self defense.


as with everything go check it out and see if it's what you are looking for. Opinions don't mean much on the internet because you rarely have a clue as to if you are getting educated opinions or not.

So far you are getting some educated opinions, MT has some good stuff, I prefer another path personally but to each their own. Doesn't mean I don't liberally steal stuff from MT and use it in my own way.

__________________
eXcessiveFORCE.

If you must use force, make it excessive.

fire cobra

Lets not forget that Muay thai(in thailand) is a proffesion and a sport,
Boxers in Thailand are pro sportsmen and the sole goal is to box and earn as much money in their (mainly)short careers in order to help there familys quality of life.

Its not a great comparison when we start looking at boxers defending knives etc etc,completly different mind set for training going on there.

Michael Wright

Great set of responses from some very experienced guys.

Good stuff.